Surrender (7 page)

again.

It was true, as Annabella had said,

stone vale must be a gentleman or Lady

Atherton and Bertie Lyndwood would not

count him among their acquaintances. But

a woman, especially an heiress, could

not depend upon any man's sense of

gentlemanly honor. She had learned that

lesson well from her stepfather. Still,

Victoria knew she would be safe enough

tonight so long as she stayed in control of

the situation.

She relaxed, allowing herself a small,

assured smile. She'd had a great deal

of experience controlling situations that

involved men.

Victoria crossed the deep blue carpet to

the yellow velvet armchair near the window

and settled in it. In a little while it would

be safe to leave the house.

Tonight there would be no time to

worry about the creeping restlessness that

frequently threatened her in the long, dark

hours of the night; no time to dwell on

that sense of something dangerous left

unfinished; no time to fret about bizarre

 
notions such as the possibility of bringing

the dead back to life with electricity.

Best of all, it was nearly midnight

already. With any luck she would be awake

most of the night, so there would be less

time for the nerve-shattering dreams that

increasingly invaded her nights as of late.

She had come to fear those nightmares. A

small shiver went through her even now as

she pushed the memory of the last one to

the farthest corner of her mind. She could

still see the knife in his hand.

No, there would be little opportunity for

those nightmares to strike tonight. With

any luck she would not be home before

dawn. She could deal with the daylight

hours. It was the darkness she had learned

to fear.

Victoria gazed out into the shadowed

garden and wondered what stone vale

would think when he saw her dressed

as a man.

The cheerful anticipation of his stunned

expression was enough to banish the small,

tattered remnant of horror that still hovered

at the edge of her mind.

Lucas leaned forward on the carriage

seat and scowled out into the shadows

of the dark street. He was not in a good

mood." I don't care for this nonsense. Why

are we not fetching Miss Huntington from

her front steps?"

 
I've told you," Annabella Lyndwood

protested." Her aunt is a very understand

ing person, but Victoria is afraid that even

she would have a few doubts about our

plans for this evening."

 
I'm glad somebody besides myself has

the sense to have doubts," Lucas growled.

He turned toward the other man in the

carriage." Lyndwood, I think we should

have a few contingency arrangements made

in case we become separated in the crowd

this evening."

 
Excellent idea," Lyndwood agreed with

alacrity. He was clearly relieved to have

Lucas along." Perhaps we ought to arrange

for the carriage to wait at a specific location

somewhat removed from the activity?"

Lucas nodded, thinking swiftly." It will

be difficult to maneuver the carriage near

the park. At this time of night the crowds

will be large and unpredictable. Tell your

coachman that if he does not find us

waiting for him at the same place where he

sets us down, he should drive two streets

over from the grounds and wait there near

a small tavern called the Hound's Tooth."

Lyndwood nodded, his handsome, con

cerned features in deep shadow." I know the

place and so does my coachman, I'll wager.

Don't mind telling you again I appreciate

your joining us tonight, stone vale. When

the ladies take a notion to have an

adventure, ain't much a man can do to

stop them, is there?"

 
That remains to be seen," stone vale

said.

Annabella, dressed in a stylish blue

walking dress with a matching blue

pelisse, giggled." If you believe you can

stop Victoria from doing anything she

pleases, you have a surprise in store for

you, my lord."

Miss Huntington gets up to these tricks

frequently, I take it?"

Annabella chuckled again." Victoria is

never dull, I assure you, but this is a

first for her, I believe. She told me she

has been planning this for some time."

 
It would seem Miss Huntington has

gone ungoverned by a husband for far

too long," Lucas observed, and glowered

at Annabella as the giggles turned into

outright laughter." I have said something

amusing?"

 
Miss Huntington intends to go the

entirety of her life without such governance,"

Annabella informed him.

 
I understand she fears being married

for her fortune," Lucas said carefully. He

wanted information but he did not want

to raise too many questions about his

motives.

 
She fears marriage altogether," Anna

bella replied, her laughter fading." She has

seen nothing but very sad examples of the

wedded state in her own family. And of

course the business of being constantly

pursued for her inheritance for so many

years has only inclined her more than

ever away from any desire for matrimony.

Sometimes, I confess I wonder if she

isn't right in her thinking. What good is

marriage for a woman?"

 
Damme,
 
Bella,"
 
her brother broke
 
in

sharply." What a mutton-headed thing to

say. Don't go taking any foolish notions

into your brain about following Miss

Huntington's example in life. Mama would

have hysterics. To be perfectly trutheul, as

charming as Victoria is, if her aunt wasn't

such a good friend of Mama's, I should

think twice about allowing you to go about

with her. Only look at the situation I am in

tonight because of that woman's influence

on you. The sooner you are married, the

better. Thank God, Barton has almost

come up to scratch."

Annabella smiled demurely in the dark

ness." I know you cannot wait to rid

yourself of the responsibility of supervising

my behavior, but I fear you must contain

your enthusiasm for a while longer, Bertie.

Upon due reflection I have decided to have

you refuse Lord Barton's offer, if and when

it comes."

" Upon due reflection probably means

you discussed the matter with Miss

Huntington," Lyndwood said morosely.

 
I do recall a conversation on the subject,"

Annabella said." She was kind enough to

give me her opinion as to the sort of

husband Lord Barton would make."

Lucas broke in on the fraternal wrangl

ing, his interest sharpened by Annabella's

last remark." How was Miss Huntington

able to form an opinion about Barton?"

Oh, I believe he pursued her quite

industriously for several months last year.

During that time she had an opportunity

to learn a great deal about him."

 
Did she?" Lucas was aware of the chill

in his own words." Just what did she

learn?"

 
A number of small items such as the

fact that Barton has apparently fathered a

babe or two on his mistress, that he has

been known to get so deeply into his cups

that he has had to be carried into his house

by his coachman, and that he has a passion

for gaming hells," Annabella answered.

 
Here now," Lyndwood muttered," can't

hold a few insignificant peccadilloes against

a man."

 
Really?" inquired a familiar, husky

female voice from the open window of

the carriage." Would Viscount Barton be

equally prepared to overlook a similar

list of insignificant peccadilloes in his

prospective wife?"

Lucas turned his head sharply toward

the carriage window, aware that the mere

sound of Victoria's voice had immediately

reactivated the desire he had first experienced

in Jessica Atherton's card room.

He concealed his eagerness with the cold

control he had learned years ago, prepared

to greet his heiress with proper formality.

But instead of a striking woman in an

elegant gown and bonnet, he found himself

staring at a figure dressed to the nines

in men's clothes. Laughing eyes met his

through the shadows, challenging him.

 
Good God," he said through his teeth,

 
this is insanity."

 
No, my lord, this is amusing."

Lucas recovered himself as he heard the

groom start to clamber down from the

driver's seat. He shoved open the door

before the man could arrive to open it

properly, and reached out and caught hold

of Victoria's wrist before she realized his

intent. He had been expecting a lady with

a taste for some mild adventure, not this

outrageous creature.

 
Get in here, you little baggage, before

someone recognizes you."

His urgency brought Victoria through the

door far more quickly than she intended.

She gasped as she landed heavily on the

 
seat beside Lucas and grabbed her beaver

trimmed hat to keep it in place. He saw she

was clutching an expensive-looking inlaid

walking stick in her hand.

 
Thank you, my lord," she said with

heavy sarcasm.

Lucas ignored her." Let's get out of here,

Lyndwood.

Lyndwood obliged by tapping his stick

against the roof of the carriage." To the

park, if you please," he called out.

Annabella smiled at Victoria as the

carriage clattered into motion." You look

very well turned out this evening, Vicky.

Do I detect BrummelPs influence in your

choice of blue? He is particularly fond of

the color, I'm told. But you have always

preferred yellow."

 
I decided a yellow coat might be a

bit too striking for the occasion," Victoria

conceded.